China-LAC Cooperation Fund

The fund was established by China's State Council in 2015. Its principal sponsors include the People's Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. It operates under a mandate that integrates development-finance objectives with foreign-policy priorities, reporting jointly to financial and foreign-affairs authorities.

The fund primarily co-finances sovereign and quasi-sovereign infrastructure projects alongside Chinese policy banks—such as China Development Bank and China Exim Bank—and multilateral development banks. It does not operate as a conventional private equity fund pursuing market-rate returns through direct equity stakes.

Its mandate covers energy, transportation, logistics, and agricultural processing across Latin America and the Caribbean. Known projects include the Cauchari solar park in Argentina and the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant in Ecuador. Engagement has also extended to Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela, with project selection closely aligned to state-level negotiations.

The fund is a dedicated Latin American and Caribbean facility under the Belt and Road umbrella, complementing broader BRI corridors. Its existence signals China's intent to extend infrastructure diplomacy into the Western Hemisphere, using concessional finance to secure long-term resource access and contractor participation.